Practice
Simple future tense: forms and examples
At the door, Mika sees that the floor is wet and says, "It is going to rain." A minute later, her phone rings and she says, "I will answer it." Both sentences look ahead, but the reason for each choice is different.
Choose will or be going to when you describe a future decision, prediction, plan, or sign you can see now.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I will call you /aɪ wɪl kɔl juː/
The short answer
Use will for a decision, offer, or prediction that comes from your opinion. Use be going to for a plan that existed before this moment or for a prediction based on present evidence.
I will carry that box for you.
Why it works: The speaker offers help at the moment of speaking.
5 more examples
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I will send you the address after lunch.
The speaker makes the promise while talking.
Not this:I
am going to sendyou the address after lunch because I wrote it down this morning. What changes: The plan existed before the conversation. -
Those dark clouds are going to bring heavy rain.
The clouds are present evidence for the prediction.
Not this:I think the weather
will improveby Friday. What changes: This prediction comes from the speaker's opinion, not visible evidence. -
Don't worry, I will help you with the forms.
Will is common for an offer made in response to a situation.
Not this:We
are going to helpat the event because we signed up last week. What changes: Signing up earlier shows an existing arrangement. -
Nora is going to study engineering after high school.
The sentence presents Nora's future intention or plan.
Not this:Nora
will probably enjoythe design course. What changes: Probably shows Nora's opinion about a future result. -
Will you open the window, please?
Will can make a polite request about a future action.
Not this:
Are you going to openthe window during the meeting? What changes: The question asks about a plan or intention.
Read the full guide
Ask what caused the future statement. Did you decide at this moment, make an offer, or give an opinion about the future? Will is often a good choice. Did you already have a plan, or can you see evidence of what will happen? Be going to is often clearer. In many everyday conversations, both forms can be possible, but the speaker's reason helps you choose.
Build the two future forms
Use will with the base verb for every subject: I will leave, she will leave, and they will leave. For going to, change be to match the subject: I am going to leave, he is going to leave, and we are going to leave.
They will meet us at the station.
Will stays the same with every subject, while am, is, and are change.
Complete the sentence: She ___ going to start a new job.
Use is: She is going to start a new job.
Use will for a decision made now
A speaker often uses will after hearing new information or noticing that something needs to happen. It can show an immediate decision, a promise, or an offer.
The bus is late. I will call a taxi.
The speaker chooses to call after learning that the bus is late.
Choose the form for an immediate offer: I ___ make some tea.
Use will: I will make some tea.
Use going to for an existing plan
Use be going to when a person has already decided on an action before the current conversation. The plan does not need to be fixed in every detail, but it is not a new decision.
We are going to visit my aunt on Saturday.
The visit was arranged before the speaker said the sentence.
Complete the plan: I ___ going to apply for the course next month.
Use am: I am going to apply for the course next month.
Use going to when there is evidence now
Be going to also works for a prediction when you can point to a sign in the present. The sign gives a reason for the prediction.
Watch out. That shelf is going to fall.
The speaker can see that the shelf is unstable now.
Choose the form: Look at the score. Our team ___ going to win.
Use is: Our team is going to win.
Make negatives and questions clearly
Put not after will for a negative: I will not wait, or I won't wait. With going to, put not after be: She is not going to wait. Start a question with will, am, is, or are.
Are they going to join us later?
Are comes before they because this is a question about their plan.
Make this negative: He ___ not going to drive tonight.
Use is: He is not going to drive tonight.
Before you go
Remember this
Use will plus a base verb for a decision made now, a promise, an offer, a request, or a prediction based on opinion. Use am, is, or are going to plus a base verb for an earlier plan or a prediction with evidence now. Check the reason for the future statement before you choose.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Simple future tense: forms and examples"
What is the simple future tense in English?
English uses several forms for future meaning. At B1 level, will and be going to are two useful forms. Will is followed by a base verb. Be going to uses am, is, or are before going to and the base verb.
I will send you the address after lunch.
When should I use will for the future?
Use will when you decide as you speak, make an offer or promise, ask someone to do something, or make a prediction from your opinion. The form does not change with the subject: I will go and they will go.
I am going to send you the address after lunch because I wrote it down this morning.
When should I use be going to?
Use be going to for an intention that existed before the conversation or for a prediction supported by a sign you can see now. Choose am with I, is with a singular subject, and are with you, we, or they.
Those dark clouds are going to bring heavy rain.
Can will and going to mean the same thing?
They can both refer to the future, and some broad predictions allow either form. The speaker's reason can still change the choice. Going to makes an earlier plan or present evidence more noticeable, while will often presents a fresh decision or opinion.
I think the weather will improve by Friday.
How do I make future questions and negatives?
Put will before the subject in a question, and add not after will for a negative. With going to, use the correct form of be: Is she going to leave? She is not going to leave. Do not put will directly before going to.
Don't worry, I will help you with the forms.